Dam appabatus



p 1929- N. F. AMBURSEN 1,726,522

I DAM APPARATUS Filed May 31, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet l lmwws, INVEN TOR W- BY Sept..3, 1929. N. F. AMBURSEN DAM APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Filed May 31, 1923 N VENTOR A TTORNE Y S 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 V? INVENTOR BY Q9 1 y A TTORNE K5 i I I I I Sept. 3, 1929. N. F. AMBURSEN DAM APPARATUS 5 Filed May 31, 923

Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAM APPARATUS.

Application filed May 31,

This invention relates to dams and has to do primarily with apparatus for controlling the flood waters in rivers. The objects and advantages of the invention will be best understood from a brief statement of present practice.

It is usually customary to build a dam to its maximum height and allow for the flood waters to pass over the crest of the dam; and

this height is governed by the amount of flood, the elevation of the banks of the river, and the presence or absence of railways and other factors setting up limitations as to height of maximum water level and, therefore, height 5 of dam. N o provision is made to retain any part of such flood, or to maintain a constant head on the crest in connection therewith.

In some parts of the country the banks are low and the floods are extremely heavy, and

under such conditions it is impossible to build dams, except with extremely low heads and long spillways, which is prohibitive, as the power or storage obtained does not warrant the cost of construction. Where such conditions exist (and the Rio Grande may be mentioned as an example) it is impossible to use dams for power purposes.

Automatic gates or so-called flashboards have been used in connection with dams, but these require counterweights to overcome friction and water pressure and also overhead bridges which are objectionable, not only from the standpoint of the cost of construction but also because of the cost of maintenance. The bridges are subject to being washed away by the ice or log jams and in northern climates it is diflicult to operate such gates due to freezing. Practically all gates which have been used in connection with dams have been of this general, mechanically operated type and are open to the same objection. In addition, they cannot be used in places where the conditions are as above pointed out.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide apparatus which overcomes the foregoing objections, is simple and effective in operation, economical to construct, and capable of use with practically negligible maintenance cost.

Another of the objects of the invention is to provide apparatus by virtue of which it is possible to obtain a much greater normal head of water, at comparatively little cost, whereby storage and power are increased to 1923. Serial No. 642,381.

a maximum, while at the same time, floods are so controlled that the limitations imposed in the particular instance, are not exceeded.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus which will retain and store such flood waters as would not exceed limitations, or stated in another way, apparatus which relieves flooding conditions only to the extent required, the remaining flood waters being retained and stored for pondage and power, this being particularly valuable in cases where there is a wide variation between the extremes of high and low water, as is the case, for example, in sections where there is a long dry season.

A further object of the invention is to make it possible to use dams for power purposes where, heretofore, it has been impossible to make practical use of the same be cause of the cost of construction as compared with the power developed.

In general, my invention contemplates a practical device for controlling flood waters, a result not heretofore achieved.

The foregoing, together with such other objects as may hereinafter appear or are incident to my invention, I obtain by means of a construction which I have illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross section through a dam embodying my invention, the section being taken on the line 11 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, drawn on an enlarged scale and with certain of the parts in another position;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line i4 of Fig. 1.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, the reference letter A denotes the dam as a whole. This dam may be of any construction but as shown it is composed of reinforced concrete and is of the hollow type having a sloping upstream wall or breast and a downstream wall or face 8, such walls being connected by the fore and aft sections 9. At suitably spaced intervals, piers 10 are provided, such piers extending well above the top of the dam structure.

Rising substantially vertically from the breast of the dam, at about the middle there of, are wall sections 11, extending between and interlocking with the piers 10 small diameter.

The sections 11 terminate in about the same plane as the top of the dam, and this level is the maximum to which the dam can be built and still pass maximum flood waters without exceeding the limitationshereinbefore referred to.

It will be noted that the breast of the dam, the sections 11 and the piers cooperate to form triangular pockets B, open atthe top. What may be termed the crest of the dam is formed by a plurality of floating gate members or tanks C. These tanks or gates are of sector-like form and are hollow, being preferably formed of heavy sheet metal internally reinforced and braced by trusses so as to withstand the pressure without buckling. The tanks have their apices pivoted in the rear upper corners of the pockets B, as by means of the pipes 12 and the sleeves 13. The tanks are preferably used across the width of the dam, although in some cases this may not be necessary.

The gates operate in the following manner: Under normal conditions they float in the position shown in Fig. 1, for which purposes the wall sections 11 are provided with suitable inlet openings 14.- of comparatively These openings operate to maintain a body of water within the pockets B in which the tanks float. The tanks, therefore, constitute a floating crest acting to increase the height of the dam and they raise "the level of the water retained, for example to the line marked a, the surplus water being carried over the top of the tanks.

The tanks are prevented from being swung upwardly and rearwardly by means of the stop pieces 15 securely supported in the piers,

the disposition of the tanks being such that the resultant thrust, under normal condi tlOl1S,Wll.l not be such as to depress the tanks.

In flood times, when the level of the water rises above the line a, water will enter the tanks through the pipes 16 which are embedded in the piers and provided with a screened inlet 17. One of these pipes 16 communicates with one of the pipes 12 serving as a pivot for the tank. As water enters into the tank through the pipe 16 and the hollow pivot, the air within the tank is expelled through the outlet 18, such outlet being controlled by a flap valve 19. The water in spilling over the crest would follow along the lines indicated in Fig. 1 and tend to produce a vacuum at that point so that the water will freely enter into the tanks through the pipes 16.

As the tanks fill, they tend to sink, automatically lowering the level of the crest, which, of course, has the eflect of lowering the dam, as it were, to control the flood. The depth to which the tank will sink is, of course,

dependent upon the extent of flood. At times of maximum flood, the tanks will become completely filled and will sink to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the top of the tanks will be substantially on the same plane as the top of the wall sections and the dam, and the level of the dam, considered as a whole, will then be such as to take care of maximum flood without producing a flood head exceeding the limitations of the particular instance.

As the flood receeds and the water no longer enters through the pipes 16, the water within the tanks will be siphoned out by means of the pipes 20 communicating with the other of the pivot pipes 12. These other pivot pipes are in communication with the pipes 21 which discharge at the down stream side of the dam, close to the bottom thereof. The pipes 20 and 21 and the pipes 12 are thus arranged to act as a siphon to empty the tanks as set forth. During siphoning air may enter into the tanks through the pipes 16.

The pipes 20, by virtue of the inclination of the tanks when in raised position, as shown in Fig. 1, will act as a drain to discharge any water which may leak into the tanks. In order to prevent drowning and to ensure escape of air or entry of air, under certain conditions of operation, it may be desirable to provide each tank with .a pipe 22. For purposes of regulating the siphoning action, the pipes 21 may have a reduced end portion 21 or be provided with a controlling valve 21", or both, as shown. By this means the rate of siphoning may be governed.

The fit of the tanks in the pockets is such that no material of any appreciable size can work into the pockets from above and in this connection it is to be observed that the weight of the tanks, which is very great, would suffice to crush any small material that might work in. For all practical purposes, therefore, any collection of solid matter in the pockets would be largely in the nature of a sediment, for the cleaning out of which, if necessary, the gates 23 are provided. If desired the tanks may be provided with wiping pads or flaps 24 composed of rubber or leather, to secure tighter joints between the tanks and the walls of the pockets.

There will be no shock in operation, for in being depressed the tanks will be cushioned by the Water in the pockets, at least a substantial portion of which must be displaced. In rising, shock is also eliminated as the siphoning may be governed or controlled as required.

The size of inlets is also a factor in control ofoperation as is the elevation of the inlets.

The tanks can be operated singly or in pairs the range imposed by the natural limitations;

. which in normal times, provides a maximum head of pondage and, therefore, maximum power capacity at a cost within practical limits; and which will act to retain for storage that portion of the flood head which may be retained without exceeding the natural limitations. V

Other advantages will occur to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. In a dam, the combination of a hollow movable crest member, drainage means there for having an outlet opening located below the lowest point to which the crest member moves, and inlet means communicating with the crest member and having an inlet opening located at a point above the highest point to which said member moves.

2. In a dam, the combination of a hollow movable crest member, drainage means therefor having an outlet opening located below the lowest point to which the crest member moves, and inlet means communicating with the crest member and having an inlet opening located at a point above the highest point to which said member moves, said inlet means being of greater capacity than said drainage means.

3. In dam apparatus, a hollow floatable crest member, means automatically admitting flood-water thereinto when said water has reached a predetermined level, and means automatically draining the water therefrom when the flood water recedes, said first mentioned means being adapted to admit air to said crest when the flood-water has receded below the aforementioned predetermined level.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a dam provided with an automatic crest floating on the water and also held in raised floating position by the thrust of the retained water, said crest being hollow, and an inlet conduit therefor having an inlet opening at a level above the dam whereby water enters the crest when a predetermined water level is reached.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a dam provided with an automatic crest floating on the water and also held in raised floating position by the thrust of the retained water, said crest being hollow, and an inlet conduit therefor having an inlet opening at a level above the dam whereby water enters the crest when a predetermined water level is reached, together with means for draining the crest of water when the water level recedes.

6. In apparatus of the character described, a dam provided with a hollow crest member adapted to float on the water, and "an inlet conduit with an opening above the dam level whereby water from the stream may enter the member.

7. In apparatus of the character described, a dam provided with a hollow crest member adapted to float on the water, and means comprising a conduit with an intake opening located above the dam level whereby water from the stream may enter the member, together with vent means for the member.

.8. In apparatus of the character described, a dam provided with a hollow crest member adapted to float on the water, and means including a conduit with an intake opening located at a level above the dam whereby water from the stream may enter the member, {)ogether with means for draining the mem- 9. In apparatus of the character described, a dam provided with a hollow crest member adapted to float on the water, means for admitting water from the stream into the member, air relief means, and means for draining the member.

10. In apparatus of the character described, a dam provided with a hollow crest member adapted to float on the water, said member being of sector-like form pivoted at the apex, and hollow pivot means therefor, together with a conduit communicating with each hollow pivot.

11. In apparatus of the character described, a dam provided with a hollow crest member adapted to float on the water, said member being of sector-like form pivoted at the apex, and a plurality of hollow pivots therefor, together with a water inlet conduit leading to one hollow pivot and a water outlet conduit leading from another hollow pivot.

12. In a dam, the combination of a hollow pivoted crest, a pocket adapted to receive said crest when lowered, an inlet to the crest adapted to admit water at a pre-determined water-level or air at a lower water-level, and an air-exhaust port in the crest.

13. In a dam, the combination of a hollow pivoted crest, a pocket adapted to receive said crest when lowered, an inlet to the crest adapted to admit water at a pre-determined water-level or air at a lower water-level, an air-exhaust port in the crest, and a siphon to drain said crest.

14. In a dam, the combination of a hollow pivoted crest, a pocket adapted to receive said crest when lowered, an inlet to the crest adapted to admit water at a pre-determined water-level or air at a lower water-level, and an air-exhaust port in the crest with a flapvalve over said port.

15. An adjustable dam automatically controlled by the retained water comprising, in combination, a plurality of independently operable floating tanks; a crest pocket to receive said tanks when they are lowered, a water inlet adapted to admit water into a tank at a pre-determined water-level, and another water inlet adapted to admit water into an- 4 mas-$232 other tank at a higher water-level than said predetermined water-level, another water first inlet. I inlet adapted to admit water into another 10 16. An adjustable dam automatically contank at a higher water-level than said first trolled by the retained water comprising, in inlet, siphon means to drain the tanks, and

5 combination, a plurality of independently opair-exhausting port means in the tanks.

erable floating tanks; a'crest pocket to receive In testimony whereof, I have hereunto said tanks when they are lowered, a water signed my name.

inlet adapted to admit water into a tank at a NILS FREDERICK AMBURSEN. 

